Pope clears path for canonization of Blessed Peter ToRot

Port Moresby: The Catholic Church in Papua New Guinea has received long-awaited news in its efforts to have Blessed Peter ToRot canonized as a saint. A press conference held at the Catholic Bishops Conference (CBC) on April 4, 2025, provided a detailed update on the process.

Panellists of the Press Conference from left to right: CBC General Secretary Rev. Fr Lawrence Arockiaraj, Vice President of CBC His Lordship Bishop Rozarion Menezes SMM, His Eminence John Cardinal Ribat MSC, President of CBC His Lordship Bishop Otto Separy and Catholic Professionals Society Mr Paul Harricknen.

His Eminence John Cardinal Ribat MSC, Archbishop of Port Moresby, opened the conference by sharing the inspiring story of Blessed Peter ToRot, a martyr and a symbol of faith for Papua New Guinea. His beatification many years ago marked the beginning of a journey towards sainthood, and the latest developments have brought the Church closer to this historic achievement.

Bishop Otto Separy, President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of PNGSI, walked media personnel and attendees through the timeline of the canonization process. He highlighted key milestones, including the formation of a special team to advance the cause. The team includes Archbishop Rochus Tatamai, MSC, as the petitioner, Fr. Fernando Clemente, MSC, as the postulator and Fr. Tomas Ravaioli, IVE, as the vice-postulator. The team has been working in consultation with the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints in Rome.

Bishop Rozario Menezes, Vice President of the CBC, clarified common misconceptions about the canonization process. He emphasized that the canonization date has not yet been set, contrary to some reports suggesting it might coincide with the 50th anniversary of PNG’s independence. The date will be determined by the Pope and the Vatican. Bishop Rozario also gave details on the steps of canonization, noting that while the Pope granted a special iter in April 2024 excusing the requirement for a miracle due to logistical difficulties as pNG’s tradition is oral tradition and some of the miracles were not recorded or documented, the cause remains on track and the next steps are clear.

Reverend Fr. Lawrence Arockiaraj, General Secretary of CBCPNGSI, began his address by acknowledging the Pope, the hardworking team in the Vatican, Archbishop Rochus Tatamai MSC, Bishop Dariusz Kaluza, Fr. Fernando Clemente MSC and Fr. Tomas Ravaioli IVE for their dedication in ensuring that due process and requirements are followed for the cause of canonization. Fr. Lawrence also informed the media that further details regarding preparations for the canonization will be provided after the Annual General Meeting of the Catholic Bishops Conference come the end of April to May, 2025.

A significant step in the process was the submission of the Positio(A positio is a formal brief arguing for the canonization of an individual in the Catholic Church) Super Canonizatione in November 2024, followed by the Compendium (a concise collection of knowledge pertaining to a single topic or theme) in February 2025. Both documents have been reviewed and approved by the Vatican, leading to the approval of the Decree of Canonization in March 2025. The Holy See officially announced the Decree on March 31, 2025.

In addition, the Catholic Professional Society President, Mr. Paul Harricknen, expressed his excitement about this significant milestone for the Church of PNGSI.

“I am super, super excited. I am speaking as a layman, a husband, a father, a grandfather, and a family man. This is a joyous occasion for us Catholic lay leaders. Blessed Peter To Rot is our role model, and we shall continue to follow in his footsteps. This news came at a time when a lot of negative things are happening in the country. This is a sign of hope,” said Mr. Harricknen.

The conference marked a significant step forward for the cause of Blessed Peter To Rot, bringing the faithful of Papua New Guinea closer to the day when their beloved martyr may be officially recognized as a saint.